Report: Newcastle agreement for Anderlecht’s Chancel Mbemba said to be imminent

Newcastle’s summer recruitment drive is set to kick up a gear with a move for Anderlecht central defender Chancel Mbemba close to being agreed, according to dhnet.be.

The Congolese international joined Anderlecht in 2012 and has slowly cultivated a reputation as one of the most promising young defenders in the country.

Newcastle are now set to shore up their interest by matching the Belgian club's asking price - reported by DH to be around £7 million.

Mbemba is registered with FIFA as 20-years old - with a birth date of 8th August 1994 - but there has been controversy over his age in the past, with the player said to have registered a different date of birth - 8th August 1988 - while at Congolese club, ES La Grace back in 2006.

Despite that minor irregularity, there is no doubting the player's promise and comparisons to a certain Vincent Kompany have been made by regular Jupiler Pro League observers.